Singapore T1 and T2 - please reality check (my unnecessarily complex) plan

[TripleB]

Hi there,

I'm travelling with Mrs Triple B out of Singapore in a couple of weeks.

I'm on MH leaving from T2 at 19:15 (to KUL and onto DRW) and she is on QF (to SYD) leaving T1 at 20:20. I

'm wondering if someone more familiar with T1 and T2 at Singapore (I've flown through Singapore quite a bit but only ever flown out of T1) would be able to tell me if this will work please?

1- Get cab to T2. Both get out and I will go and check in for MH (likely HLO but may have a checked bag if I buy stuff in Singapore). 2- After I have a MH boarding card - get the landside skytrain around to T1 - Mrs TripleB to checkin.

3- Both go through passport control at T1.

4- QF club (Mrs TripleB and I can both get in under our own steam so won't run foul of the need to be travelling on same plane rules).

5- Then about an hour before the MH flight goes, I will walk to MH in T1. Judging by the terminal map I found it looks to be about a 28 minute walk from the QF lounge to the furthest of the T1 gates (F60). If I have time I might check out the MH lounge.


So my questions:

• Will this work?

• Do you think that it might just be easier to avoid the inevitable 'why are you in this terminal' question when I go through passport control in T1 and just let Mrs TripleB go around to T1 on her own and meet her in the QF lounge?

Also the connection in KUL (from SIN connecting to DRW) is 1:10 minutes (sold through the MH website - so presumably meets the minimum connect time). Is this realistic? I haven't been to KUL since Lauda were plying SYD-KUL-VIE.


Many thanks,
TripleB

 

[dajop]

From a time of departure perspective I suggest you get dropped in T2 first and your wife stay in the taxi to go back to T1. This should only cost an extra dollar or two (if you have plenty of time though it is sensible to drop at T1 first) and you should both pass through immigration in the terminal you are departing from to avoid issues during BP checks. Then rendezvous outside the Qantas Club

In terms of when to leave it depends on how fast you usually walk and which gate the MH flight departs from and you should be at the gate about 20 mins before departure (boarding usually starts between 15 and 20 mins before departure, as the planes usually have a tight turn around ) .

I've left from an E gate practically in T1 (next gate was in T1) and its only taken 5 minutes from QC. But I've also left from F36, about as far as you can get, it was 15 min walk using travellators (just missed the train). I walk fast. Add 5 mins for average walking speed. You can also save a little walking of travelling from F gate by going via T3 and using two sky trains.

As for KUL, 1:10 is fine, if flight is on time or even up to 30 mins late. Like SIN it has gate based security so you don't get stuck at central transfer/security checkpoint. The only people you get stuck behind will be on your flight anyway. If you need to move via train between main an satellite terminal that only takes 5 mins plus the walks between gates and the train.

 

[Himeno]

How fast do you work? I've walked from the general T1 transit/shopping area, via D40 through T2 to F60, then back through T1, through T3 to A20, then back to T1 in 80 minutes.

 

[TripleB]

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated.

I think that I'll ditch Mrs TripleB and meet her in the QF club. Probably easier that way and far less explaining to do (even though I'm doing nothing wrong).

I'm told that I charge through airports and people have trouble keeping up with me. I generally find that the walking time to departure gates are usually much longer than it takes me - but if I bank on the stated time then I have some to spare.

 

[dajop]

I'm told that I charge through airports and people have trouble keeping up with me. I generally find that the walking time to departure gates are usually much longer than it takes me - but if I bank on the stated time then I have some to spare.

You'll have plenty time to spare, I charge through airports too. My calibration for the Changi airport chart is about 2:1, 10 mins = 5 mins for me (The chart is designed with locals in mind, who walk about the same pace as my partner's 90 yo grandmother which drives me crazy, but that's a story for the playground section of AFF). Also if you depart from gates E24-E28 not worth catching the train back to T2 (particularly E28), definitely travelators and no more than 6 or 7 mins from QF lounge.

I've done this I think 6 times in the last four months for MH flights, and will again on Thu afternoon. QF lounge is worth it for the walk.

 

[TheDan]

At Changi, I once tried to go through immigration at a different terminal then the one I have arrived at, as I'd met up with a friend there. No chance - they made me take the train back to my original terminal even when I assured them I am travelling HLO.
I could imagine the same would happen for departure.

 

[dajop]

At Changi, I once tried to go through immigration at a different terminal then the one I have arrived at, as I'd met up with a friend there. No chance - they made me take the train back to my original terminal even when I assured them I am travelling HLO.

I've done that a number of times from gates in T2 and T3 that are closer to T1. No problems on arrival. But I have access to electronic gates so no interaction with officials.

On the departure side I just remembered, when my brother and his family last visited after checkin in T1 (for Emirates) we went to food centre in public area of t3 and they entered transit area from t3, so it is possible. So apologies for incorrect info before - it may actually work!

 

[Cynicor]

Never had issues going through immigration (arrivals) in different terminals. I wouldn't even tell them, I doubt they'll care.

 

[TripleB]

Thanks for all the replies - it is very much appreciated.

It would be a monumental pain in the neck to be sent from T1 immigration back to T2, to then have to walk around airside back to the QF club.

WhatI might do is get a cab to T1, let SWMBO checkin at QF whilst I hot foot it around to checkin at T2, go through immigration and then meet her in the QF lounge.

 

[Himeno]

I've done this I think 6 times in the last four months for MH flights, and will again on Thu afternoon. QF lounge is worth it for the walk.

Once I was connecting from MH to JL. KUL couldn't/wouldn't give me the JL boarding pass. SIN transfer desk said it was "too early". I was able to get into the CX Lounge (QF lounge not open at the time) by showing my baggage claim ticket showing both MH and JL flights.

 

[defurax]

Never had issues going through immigration (arrivals) in different terminals. I wouldn't even tell them, I doubt they'll care.

Last time I did that the immigration agent asked me if my bag had been checked through when I was transiting in SIN with a 6 hour layover (on 2 PNR). He told me people with bags had to exit in the terminal they arrived at. So I guess his computer didn't show I had an onward flight that day and that my bag had been checked through.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Personally, I think the best way is to use the cab for the 2 terminals. The check-in area for QF is in row 5, which is on the side further away from the skytrain to T2. For MH, the check-in is in row 9, again, at the far end away from the skytrain station. You most certainly wouldn't want to do the walk twice.

As for the discussion whether one could enter/exit from different terminals, it's best to use the YMMV tag.

 

[TripleB]

Thankyou for all the responses - I think that this sort of info is what makes AFF great.

One more question if I may - if I get the cab to do 2 drop offs is it going to be easier with the way the roads are configured to drop off first at T2 and then T1 or vv?

 

[Cynicor]

Maybe just ask the cabbie/tell him and he'll sort it out. They speak perfect English 95% of the time.

My guess is 2 then 1 but I've never done the rds between them.

 

[dajop]

Thankyou for all the responses - I think that this sort of info is what makes AFF great.

One more question if I may - if I get the cab to do 2 drop offs is it going to be easier with the way the roads are configured to drop off first at T2 and then T1 or vv?

Both involve some back tracking, but from memory (and the help of google maps) the way the roads are configured means that T1 then T2 is shortest/quickest.

 

[Awesom Andy]

T1 to T2 is about 500m less than T2 to T1, but then, it's a slightly longer journey to get into T1 first. Doesn't make much of a difference, although most cabbies would have their own preferred routes. In T1, request to be dropped off at door 2. In T2, it would be towards the end of the terminal, can't quite recall which door number it is though.

 

[TripleB]

Thanks again.

 

[dajop]

. In T2, it would be towards the end of the terminal, can't quite recall which door number it is though.

Door 5 for MH. Confirmed this afternoon, although taxi still wanted to stop at Door 3.

 

[moa999]

Just a little note that the B to E train no longer operates.

If Airside there is a shuttle bus that operates from near immigration.
If Landside go to the Basement and walk across the bridge above the railway station.
Inter-Terminal Transfer - Changi Airport

Alternately walk to the other end of T2/T3 and take the A to F train.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Door 5 for MH. Confirmed this afternoon, although taxi still wanted to stop at Door 3.

Confirm door 5. I was there in the late afternoon too. Although I think door 4 works just as well (they are pretty close). Which flight were you on?